Kavango West investment committee set to unlock untapped potential
• ‘Investor-friendly region’
Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo says while agriculture remains the region's greatest asset, the time is ripe for unlocking opportunities in other sectors.
Phillipus JosefNkurenkuru
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has reiterated its commitment to decentralising investment across Namibia with the establishment of regional investment committees (RICs).
The latest was launched this week in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West.
According to NIPDB’s acting executive for investment and local content, Ndapewa Hangula, the RICs are designed to highlight opportunities in each of Namibia’s 14 regions and ensure that development is driven from the ground up.
“For the past four years, we have witnessed that many investments are concentrated in the Khomas, Erongo and more recently the //Kharas regions,” she said.
“Through the regional investment committees, we aim to revive economic activity in all regions, create jobs locally and support communities to profile their own strengths,” Hangula told Namibian Sun.
She stressed that Kavango West, despite being one of the regions with the highest unemployment rates in the country, offers vast untapped potential in agriculture and agro-processing.
“The goal is not just to produce raw products, but to establish agro-processing centres that diversify the local economy, create jobs and build skills,” Hangula explained.
Ready to go
Echoing this sentiment, Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo said the creation of the RIC comes at the right time for the region’s 123 266 inhabitants.
“This committee will ensure that we know where to direct investors and that we are organised to receive them. Agriculture remains our greatest asset, but we must also unlock opportunities in tourism, hospitality and manufacturing,” she said.
Sinimbo highlighted that Kavango West’s natural resources, which include fertile soils, perennial rivers and rich biodiversity, can be leveraged for both agricultural and tourism ventures.
She called for investment in agro-processing plants, hospitality facilities, river-based tourism and even innovative projects such as crocodile farming to boost the local economy.
“This is a very investor-friendly region, and if we bring in the right investors, we can address unemployment, especially among our youth,” she noted.
Bridging the gap
During the presentation, NIPDB outlined four key functions of the investment committees: coordinating regional investment opportunities, profiling priority sectors, facilitating investor-community dialogue, and aligning projects with socio-economic needs.
With key stakeholders already identified, the Kavango West RIC is expected to be operational soon.
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has reiterated its commitment to decentralising investment across Namibia with the establishment of regional investment committees (RICs).
The latest was launched this week in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West.
According to NIPDB’s acting executive for investment and local content, Ndapewa Hangula, the RICs are designed to highlight opportunities in each of Namibia’s 14 regions and ensure that development is driven from the ground up.
“For the past four years, we have witnessed that many investments are concentrated in the Khomas, Erongo and more recently the //Kharas regions,” she said.
“Through the regional investment committees, we aim to revive economic activity in all regions, create jobs locally and support communities to profile their own strengths,” Hangula told Namibian Sun.
She stressed that Kavango West, despite being one of the regions with the highest unemployment rates in the country, offers vast untapped potential in agriculture and agro-processing.
“The goal is not just to produce raw products, but to establish agro-processing centres that diversify the local economy, create jobs and build skills,” Hangula explained.
Ready to go
Echoing this sentiment, Kavango West governor Verna Sinimbo said the creation of the RIC comes at the right time for the region’s 123 266 inhabitants.
“This committee will ensure that we know where to direct investors and that we are organised to receive them. Agriculture remains our greatest asset, but we must also unlock opportunities in tourism, hospitality and manufacturing,” she said.
Sinimbo highlighted that Kavango West’s natural resources, which include fertile soils, perennial rivers and rich biodiversity, can be leveraged for both agricultural and tourism ventures.
She called for investment in agro-processing plants, hospitality facilities, river-based tourism and even innovative projects such as crocodile farming to boost the local economy.
“This is a very investor-friendly region, and if we bring in the right investors, we can address unemployment, especially among our youth,” she noted.
Bridging the gap
During the presentation, NIPDB outlined four key functions of the investment committees: coordinating regional investment opportunities, profiling priority sectors, facilitating investor-community dialogue, and aligning projects with socio-economic needs.
With key stakeholders already identified, the Kavango West RIC is expected to be operational soon.
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